Weidevogels

Fifteen bird species in India remain critically endangered and three bird species that were in the 'least concern' category, so far, face greater danger than before, as per the recently-released International Union of Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) red list. The avian species that fall under the critically endangered category include migratory and non-migratory birds found in wetlands, grasslands, forests as well as scavengers. "The Himalayan Quail and Pink-headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) are practically extinct although they are listed as critically endangered," said Atul Sathe, manager-communications of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). In the latest list, two birds - the River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii) and River Tern - that were listed as species of least concern have been registered as near threatened. A third bird, the long-tailed duck, which has been sighted in India on a few occasions, has moved from 'least concern' to 'vulnerable' on the red list, Sathe added.

Conservationists have urged the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, to use the money newly available from the EU's common agricultural policy to step up protection measures. Since 2003, there has been a 13% decline in the population of farmland birds. In the five years to the end of 2012, the decline was 8% overall. The decline has slowed, according to the Wild Bird Indicator statistics released by the government on Thursday, and some species are in better health than they were in the 1970s when data began to be comprehensively collected. However, conservationists are concerned that the drop in numbers is continuing, with a halving of farmland bird numbers in the past 40 years. Woodland birds are down 17%.

Dave Jamieson says he's noticed fewer birds and bird species at his Bright's Grove dairy farm in recent years, and wants to know why. “They're just not around at all... I can go out all day and I'm lucky to see one,” he said, pointing to the disappearance of barn swallows (Hirundo rustica), chimney swifts (Chaetura pelagica) and other birds. “How come nobody notices these birds aren't around?” Jamieson, who has lived on the property all his life, said he used to see more than a dozen barn swallow nests at one time. “In the last three years, there's only been about four; and this is the first year they've never had babies,” he said. “Even when you drive along the road, and look at the hydro lines – where birds used to sit all the time – they're not there anymore.” Jamieson said he's so concerned, he's contacted Sarnia City Hall and the Ministry of Natural Resources office in Chatham, but hasn't received a response. But a biologist with Bird Studies Canada said Jamieson's concerns reflect new and alarming trends among Canada's bird populations. “There's a real dramatic change in the bird landscape going on in Canada,” said Jody Allair, biologist and science educator, pointing to a ground-breaking report released last year called The State of Canada's Birds.

Built on a fragile balance of predators and prey, Australia's various ecosystems are highly susceptible to change. When human intervention consistently alters an ecosystem, this balance can be upset, seriously threatening the biodiversity. While all species are important to an ecosystem, 'keystone' species are particularly vital. These are often top predators such as crocodiles, because of the role they play in controlling prey. The southern cassowary, however, is also a keystone species as it spreads the seeds of as many as 238 species of plants in northern Queensland. "Importantly, research clearly shows that biodiversity contributes significantly to our survival, well-being and enjoyment of life, so when we lose species at the rates that we're currently witnessing, we should be gravely concerned," says Dr Euan Ritchie an ecologist at Deakin University in Melbourne. "Losing any one species is a tragedy, but what is even more concerning is the loss of a species' ecological role following its extinction," says Euan. "If we were to lose dingoes, as an example, we also lose their ability to control pest species such as foxes and cats, and overabundant herbivores, [like] pigs, goats and kangaroos, which has widespread and often negative impacts across the whole system."

The orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) has a history as colourful as its feathers. The bird was first described by ornithologist John Latham in 1790. He gave it the specific name, chrysogaster, Ancient Greek for 'golden belly'. It has previously been known as the Orange-breasted Parrot - a name given to the Orange-bellied Parrot in 1926 by the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union or RAOU (now Birdlife Australia) when the word 'belly' was considered inelegant. The orange-bellied parrot is also one of Australia's most endangered birds, listed as ''critically endangered'' - one step above ''extinct''. There are fewer than 50 in the wild. Every summer the birds breed in south-west Tasmania. There they are met by a recovery team which monitors them, provides feed and maintains nest boxes. In colder months the parrots, one of only two species of parrot which migrate , go to the saltmarshes of Victoria and South Australia. The diet consists of seeds and berries of small coastal grasses and shrubs. Australia has one of the worst extinction records in the world. When a plant or animal is put on the national threatened species list a recovery plan is supposed to be drawn up. Often one is not, nor is there a guarantee funding will exist to enact any plan. Conservation biology expert at the Northern Territory's Charles Darwin University, professor John Woinarski, says it is almost impossible to work out what is spent on recovering threatened species each year. ''But the likelihood is that it has been decreasing in the last one to two decades, whereas the problem is becoming greater,'' he said.

Nach einer aktuellen Untersuchung der NABU-Naturschutzstation Münsterland wurden im Kreis Warendorf und der Stadt Münster in den letzten drei Jahren dramatisch weniger Kiebitzpaare (Vanellus vanellus) gezählt. 2011 gab es nach Angaben von Kristian Mantel auf landwirtschaftlichen Flächen in Münster noch 110 Kiebitzpaare. 2013 seien es lediglich noch 62 Paare, sagte der Vogelexperte der Station. Wenn sich nichts ändert, sind sich die Naturschützer sicher, stirbt der Vogel bis 2030 aus. In einem Beobachtungsgebiet im münsterischen Stadtteil Wolbeck hätten 18 Paare gerade noch drei Küken durchgebracht. Das ist „gespenstisch“, sagte Mantel. Ähnlich sei die Situation im Kreis Warendorf. Die Fachleute des Nabu haben ausgerechnet, dass pro Brutpaar und Jahr nur noch 0,16 Küken überleben. Damit der Bestand erhalten bleibt, sind aber 0,8 Küken pro Paar notwendig.

A recent estimate has pegged the population of the small, dark and swift-moving birds at 260,000. That's down from 400,000 birds counted in 2008, according to an Audubon California survey. The tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) – with its red shoulder patch and a white bar of feathers on its wing – differs from the more common red-winged blackbird in that it is a species that lives in tight colonies. "We are, absolutely, concerned about the species because we've had a 33 percent decline in their numbers between 2008 and 2011," said Keiller Kyle, conservation project director for Audubon California. The declines are being seen throughout the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys and as far south as Riverside County. The low population numbers are a stark contrast to what was seen in 1937, when it was estimated that as many as 3 million tricolored blackbirds darkened the sky statewide. With substantially lower populations today, the fear is that if the species is not safeguarded, it could become endangered and swiftly go the way of two colonial bird species – the passenger pigeon and the Carolina parakeet. Both are now extinct.

Der Steinkauz (Athene noctua) hat bei uns seit Jahrhunderten in unmittelbarer Nachbarschaft des Menschen gelebt, oft als Untermieter in Scheunen und Ruinen. In der bäuerlichen Bevölkerung galt er mit seinen mysteriösen nächtlichen Rufen als «Totenvogel», bei den alten Griechen war er das Sinnbild der Göttin Athene, was im wissenschaftlichen Namen zum Ausdruck kommt. Durch den Rückgang extensiv bewirtschafteter Obstgärten setzte ab den Fünfzigerjahren ein schneller Rückgang ein, und heute sind die kleinen Kobolde grösstenteils verschwunden.